Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

On our way from Sedona up to Canyon De Chelly, we did a "drive-by shooting" of the Petrified Forest. Fortunately, this park was set up such that you could drive through it pulling a camper and see most of what it has to offer.

When I was growing-up, I envisioned the Petrified Forest as a standing forest of trees that have turned to stone. It's a forest, but the trees are no longer standing but are strewn about the ground. I knew that.
When you first enter the park, you're given a stern warning from the Park Rangers about picking up any petrified wood. When you get outside the park, you understand why. The souvenir shops have a more impressive collection than does the park.

You can buy petrified wood that has been carved into anything you can imagine. Here is some petrified wood that has been carved into a sphere.
Here is a piece of petrified wood that has been carved into the shape of a Chevy Vega wagon.
Referring to a Vega as a "piece of wood" is a compliment, since in its day it was usually referred to as a piece of something else.

In addition to the petrified wood, the Petrified Forest National Park also has some of the best views of the Painted Desert. This was much more impressive than the petrified wood.








You may be wondering why we have so many pictures of the bathrooms.
That's because my wife was in charge of one of the cameras, and she thought they were Pueblo ruins.